Chapter 5 …
“Still, I’ll eat the ones that fell. So next time, don’t reject my cherries. They’re really delicious.”
“Haah, fine already. Just stop with the damn cherry talk!”
Millian snapped irritably.
Prea didn’t mind in the slightest. She carefully tied up the cherries she had gathered in a handkerchief. Luckily, none of them were bruised, all still plump and shiny.
She went back to sit next to Millian.
The chirping of insects echoed through the night. After a moment of thought, Prea called out to him.
“Millian.”
“What.”
He answered lazily, clearly bothered. Prea leaned her head toward him and asked,
“Why were you out here alone? There’s no tasty food here, just bug sounds.”
“That’s why I came.”
“Why though?”
Prea tilted her head, puzzled.
She liked lively places. Her mother was rarely home—not only because she was busy, but also because she was too competent for her own good.
So Prea had grown used to playing alone. Or rather, she had no choice but to get used to it. Sometimes she visited Maria’s estate, but bustling, fun play was rare.
Parties were always enjoyable. At least they weren’t quiet. But Millian seemed different.
He stayed silent for a while before answering quietly.
“Everyone’s probably more comfortable when I’m not around anyway.”
“Why would you think that? I’m comfortable with you. I bet everyone else is too.”
Prea frowned, unhappy that he thought so poorly of himself.
Millian replied flatly,
“Well, all they care about is that I’m an Edmore.”
“So what? You are an Edmore.”
Millian gave her a sharp look, frustrated at her inability to understand.
“I know that. What I mean is, it feels like they only see my background, not me. I don’t intend to play along with their shallow flattery.”
“I don’t feel that way.”
Prea tilted her head, speaking plainly. She was sincere. She didn’t like Millian just because he was an Edmore.
Millian’s gaze shifted to hers.
“I never wanted to be close to you because you’re an Edmore. It’s just…”
“Just what?”
He asked, feigning indifference but secretly curious about her answer.
Prea thought for a long while, rubbing her chin. Then suddenly she lifted both hands over her head, pretending to be a rabbit, and said in a cheerful voice,
“Because you remind me of Toto!”
“Toto?”
Millian echoed, baffled by the strange word. Prea answered with conviction,
“Yeah! My bunny doll’s name is Toto. Honestly, I think you’re even cuter than Toto.”
“C-cuter?”
Millian was dumbfounded. Prea had just casually called him cute.
People usually described him with words like: scary, unpleasant, cold, touchy, sharp, arrogant. “Cute” had never once been on the list.
Whether she realized his bewilderment or not, Prea continued brightly.
“Toto has red eyes too, just like you. I really like your red eyes, Millian.”
“Most people say they’re blood-red and frightening.”
The Edmore family’s symbol was the color red. The stronger the bloodline, the darker and deeper the shade of red in their eyes.
Millian’s were darker than even the Duke of Edmore’s. His aura was so murky and dark that it was hard to tell whether it was black or red.
That alone was enough to strike fear into others. He was still young, weaker than the Duke, but in time he would surely surpass his father.
Would this girl still call him cute then, after seeing the full extent of his power?
Millian chuckled faintly, assuming she spoke out of ignorance. She really was a girl with nothing but flowers blooming in her heart.
“To me, they look like beautiful rubies.”
“One day you’ll be afraid of me too.”
“Me? Afraid of you?”
Prea shook her head so fiercely that it almost rattled.
Millian briefly considered releasing a bit of his power to scare her but quickly decided against it—he might knock her out.
In front of a girl who clearly had no strength whatsoever, there was no reason to show it off.
“I still can’t control my strength well. I’ve made a lot of mistakes because of it.”
Prea nodded, as if she understood perfectly.
“I’m the same. I’m so clumsy that I’m always causing accidents. You should be careful too, Millian—you never know when I might hurt you!”
She even raised her hands like claws, imitating a fierce beast—roar!—as if to ask, “Scary, right?”
Of course, it wasn’t scary at all.
Millian smirked. It was funny that she was aware of her clumsiness. Even funnier was that she compared her accidents to his far more dangerous mistakes.
The girl in front of him looked like she couldn’t even hurt an ant. Not that Millian enjoyed killing, either.
In truth, he was afraid of his own power too.
“So you came all the way here just to give me a cherry?”
He changed the subject. He didn’t want to talk about power anymore.
“Oh, right!”
Prea clapped her hands as if remembering. Before he could say anything more, she leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
“Thanks for helping me earlier!”
Her voice was clear and refreshing, her smile pure as sunlight.
Millian stared blankly at her for a moment before jumping in shock.
“Wh-what was that?!”
He touched the cheek where something soft and warm had just pressed against him. He couldn’t process what had just happened.
A kiss? Out of nowhere? This girl never matched any rhythm he expected.
Prea tilted her head at his suddenly crimson ears. Her innocent expression only made his face burn hotter.
“Mom said you should thank someone with a kiss if they help you.”
“I don’t need that!”
Millian burst out, his face red all the way to the tips of his ears, and jumped to his feet.
What on earth was Marchioness Rachel teaching her daughter? Thank people with kisses? Unthinkable!
Without looking back, he strode away quickly.
“Wait, let’s go together!”
Prea hurried after him, but Millian didn’t slow down.
“Milliaaan! I said wait for me!”
No matter how many times she called, he only quickened his pace, practically running away.
In the end, she lost him.
Despite being shorter, he was incredibly fast. In no time, he vanished into the distance, leaving her no choice but to give up.
Still, she figured she had properly thanked him, so that was enough.
When she returned to the banquet hall, Maria was chatting with other noble ladies. Though the reception was nearly over, Maria had stayed behind, clearly waiting for her.
Realizing she’d forgotten all about Maria while running off to see Millian, Prea hurried over.
“Sorry, I’m so late!”
“I was about to leave without you,” Maria said with a hint of reproach.
Prea apologized over and over with a bright smile. Just then, Lena, standing beside Maria, kept nudging her in the side, clearly urging her to say something.
Prea turned to her.
“Lena, do you have something to say to me?”
“Uh… well…”
Lena hesitated, unable to speak.
Prea grew curious. Had they shared some fun story while she was gone? What could be making Lena so hesitant?
Then Maria glanced around cautiously and lowered her voice.
“About your brother.”
“Millian?”
“Yes. Millian Edmore.”
Maria’s expression was unusually serious. She kept scanning the surroundings as she spoke.
“Yeah, what about our Millian?”
Prea deliberately said “our Millian,” showing her closeness to him. At that, Maria faltered, lips trembling as if unsure whether to continue.
Prea nudged her shoulder lightly. “What is it? Don’t tell me you want me to introduce you to him or something.”
But Maria’s next words were completely unexpected.
“They say he killed someone.”
“…What do you mean?”
Prea’s face hardened, unlike her usual self. Maria’s words were too shocking. It seemed absurd, and worse, it felt like her younger brother was being falsely accused. Anger bubbled up inside her.
Maria flinched at the rare sight of Prea’s cold expression.
Lena’s eyes widened as she watched.
Maria pressed on with a strained look, speaking more firmly this time than when she’d carelessly mentioned Millian earlier. Her tone carried conviction, as though she truly believed it.
“I know you’re surprised, but I only told you because I’m worried. Killing someone—it’s kind of chilling, isn’t it?”
“Chilling?”
Prea frowned. Maria, offended by her serious tone, looked irritated in turn.
At that point, Lena stepped in to mediate. Except her “mediation” leaned entirely in Maria’s favor.
